BOXING: McCarter is top female for 2012

Around the world female prizefighting has sprouted and continues to blossom wherever promoters have deigned to stage them.

A number of female boxers proved themselves worthy of recognition, including several Americans.

The female who proved to be most impressive this year is Layla “The Amazing” McCarter, who lives in Las Vegas and has strong family ties to Riverside.

Fighter of the Year

McCarter, 33, began her boxing career as a featherweight in 1998 and throughout the years has proved willing to fight anyone regardless of size or weight. The pixie-like McCarter has captured titles in the featherweight, lightweight and junior welterweight divisions, but mostly has fought as a 135-pound lightweight in recent years.

Last September, McCarter accepted an offer to jump up three weight divisions to fight South Africa’s undefeated and much taller Noni Tenge for the vacant WBA junior middleweight title. The fight was held in East London, South Africa. It was a struggle for McCarter to fight at 154 pounds but 10 seconds after the start of round eight, McCarter caught Tenge with a left hook to win by knockout. It was another impressive win for the Las Vegas fighter and the most glowing performance by any female in 2012.

Ava Knight vs. Mariana Juarez — Both Knight and Juarez held titles in the flyweight division when they met on Oct. 13 in Mexico City. Knight, 24, held the IBF title and had defended the title twice in 2012 when asked to fight “Mexican Barbie.” Juarez, 32, held the WBC flyweight title and had defended it three times before meeting Knight. The arena was filled when they clashed. After 10 rounds of furious action, Knight won by unanimous decision. Both showed immense skill and durability over the course of the fight. Knight proved to be more energized in beating Juarez in Mexico.

McCarter walked in the ring as the much smaller fighter but emerged with a sizzling knockout win against Tenge. Most of the South African crowd felt sure Tenge was winning the fight until a single McCarter left hook changed everything.

Round of the Year

Round 6 of Knight vs. Juarez — Knight and Juarez let it all go in round six with both slugging it out. It was a furious round with each girl looking to end the fight via knockout. The unification title fight was held in Mexico City. It was an example of technique, courage and raw tenacity performed on a grand scale. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Upset of the Year

When Northern California’s Carina Moreno entered the ring in Dusseldorf, Germany, against former flyweight champion Susi Kentikian, it was supposed to be another loss. But Moreno wasn’t about to lose a third consecutive fight, especially since she felt she had won all of them. Germany’s Kentikian was looking to regain a flyweight title and had the crowd on her side, but it wasn’t enough. Moreno outfought and out-maneuvered Kentikian to win a split decision after 10 rounds and take the title. It was a shock to fans who thought Moreno was pretty much done.

Most Inspirational

Australia’s Susie Ramadan was anxious to fight for the bantamweight title after losing by decision to Yazmin Rivas a year earlier. The 118-pounder accepted the challenge to face Thailand’s Usanakorn Kokietgym, who held the WBC female bantamweight title. On July 13, the Melbourne boxer won a unanimous decision after 10 rounds. Later, drug tests allegedly showed that Kokietgym tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. It didn’t matter, Ramadan had won convincingly and now is a two-time bantamweight world champion.

Honorable mention should go to Ana “The Hurricane” Julaton who traveled to Argentina to defend the WBO junior featherweight title against Yesica Marcos in her hometown. Some disgraceful refereeing allowed Marcos to walk away with the title. Marcos was allowed to wear a protective belt around her stomach though rules do not allow this. The referee of that fight also would not allow Julaton to punch Marcos in the body area. Still, Julaton did not complain but lost the world title by decision.